Garmin Watch Software Updates: Release Notes and Bugs
By Suraj Giri, Founder & Publisher. Reviewed by Suraj Giri on .
Published · 7 min read
How this page was made
- Sources. Checked against 11 official pages from Garmin, most recently on . See the sources.
- No device testing. We don't test fixes on physical devices, so nothing on this page is a hands-on result. A fact counts as verified only when it matches an official source page.
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| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Versions | 18.29 (Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, vívoactive 6) and 18.30 (Venu 4) | Garmin software page for each model |
| Date | September 2026; Garmin prints the month only | Same pages |
| Devices | Four of the seven tracked models; the Forerunner 265, Instinct 3 Solar and fēnix 8 AMOLED stay on their July or August versions | Same pages |
| How it arrives | Automatically through the Garmin Connect app, through Garmin Express on a computer, or by a Wi-Fi sync on Wi-Fi models | Same pages |
| Install time | Not given on these pages; Garmin says a released update "may take up to a week to download" through Garmin Connect | Forerunner 970 software page |
Versions checked against Garmin's "Update and Learn More About the Software on Your…" page for each model in the table. Last checked: September 27, 2026.
Garmin keeps a separate software page for each watch model, so the right version number depends on which watch is on your wrist. This tracker gathers the current version for seven Garmin models, what each release changed and the problems Garmin says it fixed, all taken from Garmin's own release notes. For AirPods, Pixel Watch and the other brands, and for known issues after an earbud or smartwatch update, use the main Update Tracker.
Current Garmin Watch Software Versions
The newest software on the Garmin watches we track is 18.29 on the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570 and vívoactive 6 and 18.30 on the Venu 4, both released in September 2026. The other tracked models run their own numbering: 29.05 on the Forerunner 265, 15.18 on the Instinct 3 Solar and 22.41 on the fēnix 8 AMOLED.
The table gives one row per model, read from that model's Garmin software page on September 27, 2026.
| Model | Current version | Released | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forerunner 970 | 18.29 | September 2026 | Garmin: Forerunner 970 software |
| Forerunner 570 | 18.29 | September 2026 | Garmin: Forerunner 570 software |
| vívoactive 6 | 18.29 | September 2026 | Garmin: vívoactive 6 software |
| Venu 4 | 18.30 | September 2026 | Garmin: Venu 4 software |
| Forerunner 265 | 29.05 | August 2026 | Garmin: Forerunner 265 software |
| Instinct 3 Solar | 15.18 | August 2026 | Garmin: Instinct 3 Solar software |
| fēnix 8 AMOLED | 22.41 | July 2026 | Garmin: fēnix 8 AMOLED software |
Garmin lists release months, not days. Public releases only. Each page shows "the latest software version available for your Garmin device", so compare your watch with its own row only.
What Changed in the Latest Updates
The September 2026 release adds features to four models, while the latest Forerunner 265, Instinct 3 Solar and fēnix 8 AMOLED releases are mostly fixes. Garmin's wording, condensed:
- Forerunner 970 and Forerunner 570 (18.29), Venu 4 (18.30), September 2026: voice commands with the "OK Garmin" wake word, a suggested quick workout for running, the XC Ski Indoor activity and context for volume control. Fixes cover pace/speed dropouts in interval training, a reset during a strength activity free workout and music volume rising after an alarm. The Venu 4 also sends a message and your location to assistance contacts when it detects a fall, and the Forerunner 970 and Venu 4 flashlight shortcut now cycles through on, off and strobe during an activity.
- vívoactive 6 (18.29), September 2026: the quick running workout, XC Ski Indoor, fewer false unlocks with the touch lock feature and the same pace/speed dropout fix. Garmin's vívoactive 6 notes don't list the "OK Garmin" wake word.
- Forerunner 265 (29.05), August 2026: fixes syncing strength personal records to Garmin Connect and configuring heart rate and power fields from Garmin Connect Mobile, plus "various bug fixes and improvements".
- Instinct 3 Solar (15.18), August 2026: improved gear suggestions for Hike activities; fixes for lag in the glances list, pace dropping out during intervals and watch face data fields showing blank in some languages; general security improvements.
- fēnix 8 AMOLED (22.41), July 2026: two fixes only, for treadmill calibration that failed to improve treadmill distance and for a reset during a golf activity.
Known Issues by Version
No open issues are listed by Garmin (checked September 27, 2026). Garmin's release notes name the problems each version fixes, not bugs that are still open, so every row below is a fault Garmin has already fixed, quoted in Garmin's words. We don't add forum reports to this table.
| Issue (Garmin's wording) | Models | Fixed in | Status | Source | Fix page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "a shorter-than-expected battery life" | Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4, vívoactive 6 | 17.37 (July 2026) | Fixed | Garmin software pages for those four models | Garmin watch battery draining fast |
| "excessive battery drain after using the phone assistant or accepting a phone call on the watch" | fēnix 8 AMOLED; Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 | 22.35; 17.33 (May 2026) | Fixed | fēnix 8 AMOLED and Forerunner 970 pages | Battery guide in the row above |
| "a failure when uploading an activity file to Garmin Connect" | fēnix 8 AMOLED; Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 | 22.35; 17.33 (May 2026) | Fixed | fēnix 8 AMOLED and Forerunner 970 pages | Garmin watch not syncing |
| "syncing strength personal records with Garmin Connect" | Forerunner 265; Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4, fēnix 8 AMOLED | 29.05 (August 2026); 17.33 and 22.35 (May 2026) | Fixed | Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 970 pages | Sync guide in the row above |
| "Smart Notifications not working when connected to Android devices" | fēnix 8 AMOLED | 20.19 (November 2025) | Fixed | fēnix 8 AMOLED page | Garmin watch not getting notifications |
| "pace/speed dropouts, especially during interval training" | Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4, vívoactive 6; Instinct 3 Solar | 18.29 and 18.30 (September 2026); 15.18 (August 2026) | Fixed | Forerunner 970 and Instinct 3 Solar pages | None; install the version shown |
A watch on the version in the "Fixed in" column, or a later one, already has that fix. If the problem continues on that version, the fix page in the same row covers the next steps. Our update newsletter will email you when a Garmin update breaks something, and when it's fixed; sign-up isn't open yet.
How to Update or Check Your Garmin Version
Garmin watches get new software through the Garmin Connect app, through Garmin Express on a computer, or over Wi-Fi on models that have it.
| Device | How updates arrive (Garmin's wording) | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin watches | Garmin Connect "will download software updates automatically behind the scenes while your device is connected to your mobile phone"; Garmin Express checks "each time you connect your compatible device to the computer"; Wi-Fi models update "via a Wi-Fi sync" | How to Update Your Garmin Watch |
To check your version on a Forerunner 970 or fēnix 8, hold the middle-left button from the watch face, then select Watch Settings › System › About; the About screen lists the software version. Garmin's steps for most other wearables open About through Settings › System › About, and for a different layout Garmin says to search "Viewing Device Information" in your owner's manual. Compare the version you see with your model's row above.
Garmin Watch Update News Archive
Garmin's 2026 releases for the seven tracked models, newest first, by the month Garmin lists:
- September 2026: Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570 and vívoactive 6 get 18.29; Venu 4 gets 18.30.
- August 2026: Forerunner 265 gets 29.05; Instinct 3 Solar gets 15.18.
- July 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 22.41; Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6 get 17.37, which fixes a shorter-than-expected battery life; Instinct 3 Solar 14.17 fixes treadmill calibration.
- June 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 22.38 fixes possible crashes during golf; Forerunner 265 28.05 fixes some activities failing to upload to Garmin Connect and pairing to Schwinn devices; Instinct 3 Solar gets 14.15.
- May 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 22.35 and 17.33 on the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570 and Venu 4 add a silent mode and Approach CT1 support, with a long list of fixes; Instinct 3 Solar 14.14 adds Backup and Restore and a Mobility app.
- March 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 21.39 and 16.37 on the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6 fix a potential crash when using headphones; Instinct 3 Solar gets 13.29.
- February 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 21.25 and 16.28 on the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6 add weight and battery-life glances and let smart notifications wait until after an activity. On the Venu 4 and vívoactive 6, 16.28 also fixes "a critical bug" that could reboot the watch during general use. Instinct 3 Solar 13.28 fixes goal alerts that might not display.
- January 2026: fēnix 8 AMOLED 20.29; Forerunner 265 27.09; Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6 get 15.52, listed as "Changes to support manufacturing" and "Various bug fixes and improvements".
The Forerunner 265 page lists no February 2026 release: its history goes from 27.09 in January straight to 28.05 in June.
How We Check These Versions
We read each model's Garmin "Update and Learn More About the Software on Your…" page at every release and on a fixed schedule, and print only versions shown there. Garmin gives months, so we do too. Public releases only: Garmin's beta program for select models isn't tracked.
Sources
We checked this page against the pages below, most recently on . How we verify fixes
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your Forerunner 970 (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your Forerunner 570 (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your vívoactive 6 (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your Venu 4 (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your Forerunner 265 (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your Instinct 3 Solar (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Update and Learn More About the Software on Your fēnix 8 AMOLED (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Using Garmin Express to Update Your Watch's Software (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: Forerunner 970 Watch Owner's Manual, Viewing Device Information (Garmin, www8.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: fēnix 8 Series Owner's Manual, Viewing Device Information (Garmin, www8.garmin.com)Official
- Garmin: How to Locate the Serial Number or Unit ID on a Garmin Wearable (Garmin, support.garmin.com)Official